MCP says ‘crisis of confidence’ in Mutharika leadership

President Peter Mutharika and his ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) face leadership questions from main opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) on a number of governance issues.

Chakwera: Crisis of confident in Mutharika administration

MCP president and leader of opposition in Parliament, Rev Dr Lazarous Chakwera told a news conference in Lilongwe that the six months of the DPP and Mutharika leadership has been unproductive with little intervention on issues of national importance.

Chakwela said they are disturbed with increased cost of living, lack of financial prudence and delay in
implementing Farm Input Subsidy ( FISP) as some programs which government is failing to successfully implement.

“We note with great concern that the cost of living is ever increasing and now negatively impacting on the poor and the underprivileged as prices of basic commodities such as sugar, fuel and many more are increasing on a daily basis yet the sources of income for the majority have remained static,” Chakwera told reporters.

The opposition leader also criticised government on lack of austerity measures.

“While the cabinet has been maintained at 20 this far, the appointment of the army of presidential advisors and members into parastatal boards is surely one way of draining government resources and these appointments are mere political appeasements that do not have an immediate return to the country’s economic vision,” said Chakwera.

He said Mutharika government’s response to these issues has been lukewarm and favouring rich and those with political power.

Among other things, the MCP called upon government to revise downwards the bank interest rates in order to cushion small-medium enterprises, offer reasonable pay hike to junior staff members in all government departments and quickly resolve the industrial strikes currently taking place.

Commenting on ‘cashgate’ corruption crackdown, the MCP leader noted that government has stepped up the prosecution of Cashgate cases following the release of the forensic audit report by Baker Tilly of London.

He, however, noted that the process seems “extremely slow and heavily politicised.”

Chakwera said MCP is calling on government to ensure that the “pursuit of justice is colour-blind” in the Cashgate cases with no selective prosecution and shielding of ruling DPP operatives and their “well-wishers”.

He also called for a forensic audit following revelations that about K92 billion went missing during the previous DPP regime

“Commit to conduct the audit from 2005-2012 to ensure that all cases of corruption are prosecuted,” suggested Chakwera.

MCP president also expressed concerns with the security lapse in the country, saying the situation “has the potential to scare off both local and foreign investors.”

Government spokesperson Kondwani Nankhumwa accused MCP of trying to make political capital out of the issues.

He admitted that the DPP government is experiencing challenges and called MCP “noises off”.--(Additional reporting by Wanga Gwede, Nyasa Times)

More From the World

Death is not predictable unless you are agent of satan. To wish somebody die is the worst thing you can do in life. I don’t think APM has done anything very bad to you to wish him death. I’m wondering whether in your life you have never lost a relative, just imagine somebody reminding you when you lost your beloved relative the way you are doing, how would you feel my brother or sister? Is it the issue of presidency or there is something else? Because I’m failing to understand why you should wish somebody to die. You are talking… Read more »

AFTER CASH GATE,DE DONORS WERE WAITIN TO SEE IF MALAWI WOULD VOTE WISELY-IE VOTE FOR CHANGE.BUT DID MALAWI VOTE 4 CHANGE?LET ME TEL U WHAT CHANGE IS CHANGE FROM PP -REASON-CASHGATE24BILION CHANGE FROM DPP-REASON-CASH GATE OF 92BILION .SO DE ONE DONORS WOULD HAV TRUSTED=MCP.REASON MCP WOULD HAVE PROSECUTED MANY FORMER THIEVES WHO ARE STIL AT DE TOP.THEY RIGGD ELECTIONS SO AS TO ESCAPE COURT JUDGMENT.BY THE WAY BAKILI ISNOW FIDLE FIT LET HIM FACE THE PPLES HIGH COURT.BAKILI IS ALGNED TO APM.BIRDS OF SAME FEATHER SHIELDING EACH OTHER. CAN DPP ACCOUNT?CAN UDF?CAN PP?NO BUT THEY WIL ONLY DEAL WITH SMAL… Read more »

Please can some one tell me what leadership qualities do you see in Mlomwe ameneyu.
Even kuyankhula samatha. Dr Chakwera is very eloquent koma a president anu a DPP Eee!!
mavuto. i told you these Muthalikas are not politicians but a sing’nga.

Of special interest to me has been the kind of response the minister provided here…we all DPP governments have always been confrontational in its dealings with critiques……but to say we are operating on “noises off” to critiques that’s a very disappointing remark from the honorable minister…….and again Chakwera here is jst telling the government problems the country is facing no harm in it and its not even wise to start providing solutions when firstly the government itself is yet to own up and admit we have a problem and looking for solutions so to people who think they know it… Read more »

DPP ndi makape okhaokha. These people will not put any efforts to develop Malawi where they know there is no cashgate. Anazolowere kusolola kuti agwire ntchito. I urge the opposition and all Malawians of goodwill not to let these goats steal from us again. The K92B they stole from tax payers is more than too much.

Every sensible person will agree that a leader was speaking. If anyone did not get positives from what Dr Chakwera said, he/she should go back to school. What Dr Chakwera said are real issues, unless you chose not to listen. Be sober when commenting. Otherwise you shame yourself. Koma enanu muli konkuno ku Malawi? Wait and see because whatever comes is for all of us.

No one is denying the issues that Chakwera has raised. The problems that people have is the explanation of causes to the problems and some proposed solutions. For instance suggesting that interets rates should be revised downwards is ill-advised because that will make the Malawi economy collapse and not the other way round. Raising the issues is a simple task. Everyone knows that the Kwachahas depreciated and prices have gone up. However, what is golden is coming up with a solution to that.

Thank you so much Mr Chakwera for your observation,this your freedom of expression.However,it is fair enough to be realistic with the circumsances,dont just critise for the sake of gaining political mileage.You the MCP guys dont cheat yourself that you can fix this country overnight,you should be able to distinguish this era and that of Kamuzu.You Chewa people are always passive,you can not manage to mobilise nationwide support so as to take over this government.Now if you fail to familialise yourself to the whole country,how can you manage its affairs?Please be patient and wait for 2034